Estuarine Environment

This section provides a detailed overview of estuaries which form the interface between land and sea and are amongst the most productive and ecologically important coastal environments. It details the definition and types of estuaries found in KZN and identifies development and population growth as the main drivers of change. Pollution, resource exploitation, land-use change, mouth manipulation, sand mining and alien invasive species are described as the key pressures. This section then details the historic and current state of our KZN estuaries, the impacts they face, and outlines management responses / actions.

This section provides an overview of mangroves which are woody trees and shrubs that occur at the interface between the land and sea along tropical and subtropical coasts. The section identifies population growth, poor agricultural practices, coastal development and high demand for resources in rural areas in KZN as the main drivers of pressure and change. It discusses the resultant pressures, state and impacts and considers management responses / actions for KZN.

Submerged macrophytes are rooted vascular plants whose leaves and stems lie completely below the water surface. This section provides an overview of submerged macrophytes, what they are and their value. Coastal development and habitat destruction are key drivers of change, and pressures relate to poor land-use practices and catchment erosion. This section then examines the current and historic state of submerged macrophytes and impacts thereon, providing management responses / actions for KZN.